Singapore Relocation™ - Singapore Overview SRX TM .com.sg Right Home. Right Price. Singapore OverviewOverv An Introduction Singapore by the numbers 1: World-wide ranking of students in math & science 1: World Bank 2013 ranking for ease of doing business Singapore: 4: Official state languages: English, Mandarin, A Recent History Malay & Tamil Founded by the British in 1819 by Sir Stamford 18 : Number of nationally recognized museums Raffles, Singapore quickly distinguished itself as an important strategic, commercial, and military outpost. 20 : Maximum tax rate for individuals in percent In 1824, Singapore officially became a British colony when a treaty was signed making it an important asset of the British 30 : Average daily temperature in Fahrenheit, 30 East India Company. Successful trade Celsius brought wealth and progress until World War II and the ill-fated Battle of Singapore in 1942. Called ‘the largest capitulation in British history’ by Winston Churchill, the 96 : Literacy rate in percent Japanese victory and subsequent occupation was brutal until repossession came in September 1945. 90.5: Home ownership rate in percent In 1963, Singapore joined the Malaysian Federation, but two years later it separated under the guidance of its founding father, 100: Number of Starbucks nationwide Lee Kuan Yew. Under Minister Mentor Lee’s leadership, : Square kilometers total land area, roughly Singapore has emerged as one of the 710 the size of New York’s 5 boroughs world’s most modern and vibrant nations. The country is a global hub for banking, transportation & shipping, biotechnology, and entertainment. Its casinos rival that of 5,399,200: Population estimate 2013 Las Vegas, and the nation hosts the only night F1 Grand Prix in the world. Whether you consider the mysterious durian the ‘king of fruits’ or a public scourge, its unique flavor is pervasive in Singapore. Durian finds its way into cream puffs, cappuccinos, ice cream, moon cakes, even curries ~ but never on public transport, where it is banned because of its distinct, pungent aroma. Singapore Overview CULTURALLY DIVERSE POPULATION Ethnicity 3.3 % 9.1 % 13.3 % 74.2 % Singapore lies within the equatorial global green belt: the world’s tropical rainforests. Year round, the weather is hot and humid with two distinct monsoon seasons in June and December. Chinese 74.2 % Malay 13.3 % Indian 9.1 % Others 3.3 % The COST of LIVING Religion Singapore enjoys a very high standard of 0.7 % living, for both its local population and its 5.1 % expatriate residents. Boasting some of 10.9 % the best living conditions in Southeast 33.3 % 14.7 % Asia, Singapore has a well-earned reputation for exemplary cleanliness, healthcare and public safety. Imported goods, particularly 17 % 18.3 % food can be expensive. With a seemingly boundless offering of local alternatives, the savvy expat learns to take advantage of the exotic local fare while experiencing one of Singapore’s inherent benefits: its cultural diversity. Many expatriates still 33.3 % 18.3 % 17 % enjoy a housing allowance from their 14.7 % 10.9 % 5.1 % employer, which can offset the substantial 0.7 % living costs associated with renting. The private rental market almost exclusively Mercer's ranking of cost of living in 2014. concentrates on expats, as there is a nd local home ownership rate of 90.5 2 : Asia Pacific percent. 4th : Worldwide HDBs are 3 – 5 room (and the new Executive) flats that are government subsidized, relatively affordable and occupied by the vast majority of Singaporeans. These flats are not actually owned, but leased in a 99-year lease-hold and are located in housing estates, which are serviced by MRTs, Singapore’s subway system. Housing estates are self-contained satellite towns with schools, supermarkets, medical clinics, hawker centers, as well as sports and recreational facilities. Foreigners are restricted from purchasing HDBs, but renting is possible for those who meet certain requirements. Singapore Overview Private Housing Options RENTING & CONDOMINIUMS or apartments comprise the majority of medium to high density housing in Singapore. BUYING Common areas can include amenities such as resort-style pools, tennis courts, gyms and BBQ pits. In SINGAPORE Most have 24-hour security. Size can range from cozy Currently foreigners are not subject to rental to palatial. restrictions for any private residential property types in Singapore. Some landlords do, however, SEMI-DETACHED housing is generally built in pairs require a ‘company lease’ -- one that is with two mirror-imaged units sharing a common wall, signed by the individual’s employer. with a small plot of land that usually includes a parking space. Semi-Ds can have deceptively spacious interi- There are certain restrictions that apply to ors. expatriates who wish to buy property in Singapore. Under the Residential Property TERRACE HOUSES, also called row houses or town Act, a foreign person cannot acquire or houses, are built in a row of at least 3 and usually have purchase restricted residential property in identical floor plans. Typically only the ‘end terrace’ Singapore unless prior approval is granted has a garden. A shop house is a colonial era terrace by the Ministry of Law. Such properties house, which was built as a combination retail and include: residential space in the early part of the 20th century. 9DFDQW5HVLGHQWLDO/DQG CLUSTER HOMES, a relatively new option in housing in Singapore, are smaller developments of detached or /DQGHG3URSHUWLHVLQFOXGLQJ6HPL'VDQG semi-detached homes that share a common area and terraced houses amenities such as a swimming pool. /DQGHGSURSHUW\LQDVWUDWDGHYHORSPHQW BUNGALOWS or landed properties are completely which is not an approved condominium standalone residences surrounded by a walled garden. development under the Planning Act They are in short supply in Singapore where land is scarce, and generally not located near MRT stations. A foreigner is not restricted, however, from acquiring: CONSERVATION HOUSING or ‘black and whites’ were built after the First World War originally to house $Q\DSDUWPHQWZLWKLQDEXLOGLQJ British officers. The majority are owned and leased directly from the government. Tenants bear the bulk of $Q\XQLWRIDQDSSURYHGFRQGR the maintenance costs in a black and white, a trade off development under the Planning Act for relatively lower rents, uncommonly large gardens and the opportunity to live in these gracious, vintage $OHDVHKROGHVWDWHLQDUHVWULFWHGUHVLGHQWLDO homes. property for a term not to exceed seven years Note: A foreign person is not allowed to Useful Conversions: 1 Hectare = 2.47 Acres purchase all the apartments within a building, 1,000 ft2 = 93m2 or all the units without prior approval. Since 2004, foreigners are NOT restricted from buying landed property at Sentosa Cove, an upmarket residential development located on Sentosa Island. Singapore Overviewview What is the national bird of Singapore? The building crane… CURRENCY The currency of Singapore is Housing in Singapore is as varied as its population, ulatio and nd known as the dollar and is often constantly reinventing itself as ‘older buildings’ (some as represented by a letter “S” young as 30 years) are torn down in favor of sleeker, more preceding the dollar sign to avoid modern designs. Despite the fact that you can see and hear confusion: construction everywhere, some common elements still exist in the residential market: S $100.00 Singapore’s strict building codes and safety standards The ISO abbreviation is SGD. represent the best of Southeast Asia. Each dollar is divided into 100 cents, although Singapore pennies From the smallest low-rise apartment buildings to the were no longer issued after 2003. largest, grandest estates, all properties are enclosed with The 5 cent piece followed in a wall of fence creating a private, defined space. 2006. Ovens, a western convention, are still not included in all housing, but many larger homes include two kitchens: wet and dry. Properties are often listed by the number of bedrooms followed by a “+1”. For example, a 4 +1 is a four bedroom residence with one additional room for a study or for live-in help. Currently there are 4 coins Poured concrete construction is the norm. It provides a issued by the Singapore mint: cooler, quieter, pest-free alternative to wood construction. S $1.00 S $0.20 While air conditioning or ‘air/con’ is widespread throughout S $0.50 S $0.10 Singapore, central air conditioning is not. Most residences have split air/con units in each room. Pet Culture In Singapore The rising pet culture, although a relatively new phenomenon in Singapore, is taking hold and marked by the proliferation of pet stores, pet-friendly dining establishments, and dog parks. The island nation has strict rules regarding quarantine and limits the breeds that can be both imported into Singapore and are allowed in public HDB housing. Singapore even has its very own breed of cat, the Singapura. While Singaporeans are fond of dogs, they prefer smaller breeds and associate larger breeds with guard dogs. Potential landlords may or may not allow pets, and it’s best to ask up front when house hunting. Singaporere OverviewOverview Singapore’s Regions & Districts Singapore’s mainland is a diamond shaped island that can be divided into regions to facilitate planning and development. These planning regions are demarcated on the map to the right, with the district numbers in red. While careful consideration should be taken when deciding on where to work and live, it’s important to remember that at just